Pickle packing machine



Feb. 21, 1939. c. G. LANG PICKLE PACKING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1938 gnam/vio@ Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PICKLE` PACKING MACHINE Charles G. Lang, Baltimore, Md., assigner' to C. C. Lang & Son, Inc., Baltimore, lll/id.

Application July 18, 1938, Serial No. 219,853

(Cl. 22S-14) bolts 'l which serve to secure a holder through the holes 9 in the latter'. provided with a bell-sha jects from the base Claims.

This invention refers to machines for packaging pickles and more particularly to a device for packing pickles in jars, especially of the cucumber type. It has among its objects to provide a 5` device that will enable pickles of this nature to be closely and quickly packed into bottles or con-- tainers of' the conventional type; to have the functions performed with convenience to the operator; and other objects that will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

The packing of pickles of the cucumber type is usually performed by hand, and has to be done with care to meet the special conditions which this vegetable brings about, through its shape and 115` variable body growth. It is dimcult to pack the pickles into bottles or containers which are usually used, because of their lack of uniformity, slipperiness and resiliency. This situation causes considerable loss oi time, damage to the pickles,

and inartistic line-up of the pickles in the bottles. Thisv invention removes the objectionable part of the packing. It permits the pickles to be packed closely and in proper alignment. It prevents undue handling of the pickles by the operator, and pickles are inserted in the containers quickly and conveniently. The device is semiautomatic and requires no motor power for ordinary purposes.

In the drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of this invention:

Figure l is a side view in elevation of a pickle packer, with portions' broken away, to show the interior construction,

Figure 2 is a front View of the device indicated in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a detail of a pickle jar or bottle with the pickles packed in Same by the pickle packer, to show in a general way how the device places the pickles in the container,

Figure 4 indicates a modied form of iller cylinder used in this device, having an opening in its Wall, to permit packing from the exteriors.

Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 4.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

In the construction indicated l represents the base of the device. This base is preferably made as shown, the extension piece 2 being arranged to form an under-support and attachment for resting it on a table 3, bench or other means for conveniently positioning the device for the operators use. The holes 4 in the extension piece allow screws or bolts 6 to be fastened through it, to the table 3.

55 The upper portion of the base has holes 5 for This holder is ped portion it which proand is screw-threaded internally. A shell plunger member l i, having external screw threads l2 at one end portion i3 is of cylindrical form and hollow, and designed to take a coil spring ifi of the compression type. The walls of the cylinder are slotted at iii the greater length, to perm to travel longitudinally in sam contact with the coil spring lll.

l has a cap lil for closing the external projecting end as indicated. A filler cylinder iii slides over the crcumferential exterior of the plunger cylinder ll, and is guided in itsy travel by the crossheads it which are attached to it by the The iiller cylinder is made large enough to take a suitable number oi pickles 2i of the selected length, permitting their end portions 22 to project a slight amount. The projecting amounts allow the pickles to project sufciently to make them enter into a jar 23 to be filled and packed. The jar or bottle is brought up to the open mouth 25 and held thereby hand or with the spring clamps 2d which are fastened on by the screws Ztl.

In the modified form of ll shown in Fig it the cross-heads I6 e, and in working The end portion.

er cylinder or head t Sil closable by a ortion of the ller ure 4, a open slo hinged slide 2b in the upper p cylinder, permits the pickles to be inserted at the top instead of through the mouth 25. In this case, they may be dropped in place, instead of being pushed in from the front.

The method of operation is simp in three main steps. are stacked in the filler c le, consisting In the rst step, the pickles ylinder as closely as They stay in this position because the wall of the filler cylinder surrounds and com- The pickle jar or bottle is then brought against the end surface 2l or the filler cylinder, and held there by the operator. The clamp springs 24 also support the jar by pressing against its exterior surface and serve to align same accurately with the mouth of the ller cylinder. The operator then, in the third step, forces the jar against and onto the plunger, against the tension of the coiled spring I4. While this is being done, the plunger presses against the hunched pickles and causes them to enter the jar and keep their stacked form. They pass in the jar and stack in the bottom row; second row, or last row as the case may be. This leaves the pickles tightly filling the jar in rows which look neat and regular.

presses them.

The jar is then lili;

Withdrawn, allowing the ller cylinder to return to its normal position under the tension of the spring i4. Then, more pickles are placed in the filler cylinder, for packing the jar ready for same. When the ller cylinder is pushed back, it slides over the exterior surface of the plunger and is guided by the cross heads i6 moving in the slots I5. The limit of the travel at each end is determined by the ends 28 and 29 of the slots. The length of the plunger is determined by the length of the jar with which the device is used. The travel of the filler cylinder is determined by the position the pickles are to take in the jar. If the pickles are for the bottom row on the bottom of the jar, the travel of the ller cylinder to place them, is longer than the rows nearer the top of the bottle.

This process is considerably speedier than the general method of placing the pickles in the jar by using the fingers. It avoids the loss of time and patience required by existing methods, and packs the vegetables more closely and uniformly. It reduces the amount of skill required of the operator and makes the work more agreeable. The parts are accessible for inspection, repair, or cleaning, and may be readily dissembled for removal, changing, or storing away.

While but two forms of the invention are shown in the drawing, it is not desired to limit this application to such particular construction, or in any other way, otherwise than limited by the prior art, as it is appreciated that other constructions may be used, that will use the same principles and come within the scope of th-e appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A pickle packer comprising in combination, a plunger, a ller head for pickles mounted on the plunger and adapted to slide thereon and force the pickles out of same in stacked rows, and a resilient member for tensioning the filler head disposed in the plunger.

2. A pickle packer comprising in combination, a plunger, a ller head for pickles mounted on the plunger and adapted to slide thereon and force the pickles out of same in stacked rows, a

resilient member for tensioning the ller head disposed in the plunger, and an opening in the ller head for allowing the pickles to be stacked in the filler head exteriorly to the same.

3. A pickle packer of the class described comprising in combination, a filler head for stacking pickles therein, a plunger cylinder adapted to support the ller head and slide therein, means in the cylinder for guiding the filler head thereon in its travel, a cap on the plunger arranged to t in the ller head and make contact with the pickles therein and force same therefrom, means for aligning a jar for the pickles on the end portion of the ller head to receive the pickles expressed therefrom, a support for the plunger, re-

silient means in the plunger for tensioning the ller head and the aforementioned means.

4. A pickle packer of the class described comprising in combination, a ller head for stacking pickles therein, a plunger cylinder adapted to support the filler head and slide therein, means in the cylinder for guiding the ller head thereon in its travel, a cap on the plunger arranged to` t in the ller head and make Contact with the pickles therein and force same therefrom, means for aligning a jar for the pickles on the end portion of the filler head to receive the pickles expressed therefrom, a support for the plunger, resilient means in the plunger for tensioning the ller head and the aforementioned means, means for adjusting the plunger cylinder in said support and for fastening same in position.

5. A packer having a plunger cylinder and supporting member therefor, slots being provided in the wall of said cylinder, a ller cylinder slidably mounted on the exterior surface of the plunger cylinder, cross heads attached to the filler cylinder and travelling in a reciprocating movement in said slots, a coil spring in the plunger cylinder making contact with the cross heads and tensioning the same, clamps on the filler cylinder for aligning the pickle jar thereon whereby the travel of the ller head on the plunger will force pickles from the filler head into the jar in stacked rows.

CHARLES G. LANG. 

